1. What made you accept Tera Yaar Hoon Main? How does it feel to be associated with Sony SAB?
I have had a long standing relationship with Shahi Sumeet productions and they have always recognized my talent. Also, this is my 2nd show with Sony SAB after ‘Hum Aapke Ghar Mein Rehte Hain’ and it’s always a great feeling to be associated with a channel that is committed to entertaining the entire family together.
When I heard this story, which shows three generations and equally focusses on their point of view without biases, I really liked the concept. You rarely come across stories that are heart-warming and unique.
2. Please share something about your character.
I play Dadaji, Pratap Bansal, the first-generation patriarch, the oldest of the three generations depicted in the show. He is very traditional, firm and doesn’t believe in offering explanations for his decisions – if he needs something to be done, it needs to be done. I relate to it because my father was like that! Every new generation feels they are better than the previous generation. However, I feel every generation should learn from each other rather than undermine them.
3. In your opinion, should parents be their child’s friends or remain as parents?
I feel it should be a balance of both. It should be a barter system where both learn from each other. When you need to teach your child something, you should be a parent but when it comes to learning something from them or sharing something with them, you should be a friend to your child.
4. Did you have to do any special preparation for this role?
Not really. I have been through this experience as I have seen my father behave just like Pratap Bansal. We never had the courage to speak in front of him. Here as well, I am incorporating my personal experiences into my role.
However, there are a lot of things that my father taught me well which I have applied throughout my life – both professional and personal. He taught me that ‘when you have the capability of buying a car, buy a scooter instead’. His teaching was that it’s easy to climb up the ladder but when you fall down, you usually don’t have anything. Hence, you will be happy in life if you keep your requirements less than what you can afford.
5. How is the atmosphere on the set? How has the experience been shooting with everyone?
Since we started shooting during these tough times, there was a lot of uncertainty and everyone has been very cautious. Usually in the industry people would hug each other and meet but that changed entirely. People have been wearing masks, PPE kits, maintaining social distancing, sanitizing and have been very diligent in taking every other precautionary measure.
While we all continue to follow this, people have become a little more comfortable with each other now and we all have an amazing rapport on the sets. We miss each other if someone is absent on the sets. We are all so comfortable with each other that anybody can walk up to any co-star and suggest anything. It’s the feeling of an extended family.
6. What is your message to the viewers?
My message is that don’t think any generation is old. Everyone brings in some value from what they have learnt in their time. There should be a give and take relationship between everyone in the family where everyone learns something from each other. So, although we should definitely learn new things, I believe that we should never forget our roots.
Tera Yaar Hoon Main is one such beautiful story with balance of everything and I am sure people will love it and relate to it.
Keep watching Tera Yaar Hoon Main, Monday to Friday at 9 PM only on Sony SAB
Every generation should learn from each other rather than undermine them”, says Rajendra Chawla of Tera Yaar Hoon Main
